Needle-based device with a safety mechanism implemented therein

ABSTRACT

A method includes protecting an entire length of a needle of a needle-based device protruding from a needle mount coupled to a body thereof based on providing a needle shield completely encompassing the entire protruding length of the needle in a first state of disuse, and retracting the needle shield in a first direction toward the body of the needle-based device to apply a first force in the first direction to cause the needle to emerge out of the needle shield to prepare the needle-based device for a second state of use. The method also includes transitioning the needle-based device back to the first state of disuse following the second state of use in accordance with applying a second force in a second direction diametrically opposite to the first direction, and providing a lock button to lock the needle shield in the first state of disuse.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a Continuation Application of and claims priority toeach of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/831,824 titled“NEEDLE-BASED DEVICE WITH A SAFETY MECHANISM IMPLEMENTED THEREIN” filedon Mar. 27, 2020 and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/234,793 also titled “NEEDLE-BASED DEVICE WITH A SAFETY MECHANISMIMPLEMENTED THEREIN” filed on Apr. 19, 2021. U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/234,793 is a Continuation-in-Part Applications of and claimspriority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/831,824. The contents ofeach of the aforementioned co-pending Applications are incorporated inentirety thereof in this Applications by reference.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

This disclosure relates generally to needle-based devices and, moreparticularly, to a needle-based device with a safety mechanismimplemented therein.

BACKGROUND

A needle-based device may be a syringe, a hypodermic needle, a peninjector and/or a fluid collection device. Following a use of a needlethereof to inject a fluid (e.g., a medication) into a body of a patientor to extract another fluid therefrom, the needle may be covered with acap for storage purposes. The needle may also be covered with the capprior to the use thereof. Covering the needle with the cap and/orremoving the cap of the needle may result in injuries to a user of theneedle-based device. Some implementations of the needle-based device mayemploy a spring in a barrel of the needle-based device configured toenable retraction of the needle after use. However, a space in thebarrel occupied by the spring may result in the needle-based devicecapable of taking in a lesser quantity of a fluid compared to aspring-less implementation.

SUMMARY

Disclosed are methods, a device and/or a system of a needle-based devicewith a safety mechanism implemented therein.

In one aspect, a method includes protecting an entire length of a needleof a needle-based device protruding from a needle mount coupled to abody of the needle-based device based on providing a needle shieldcompletely encompassing the entire protruding length of the needle in afirst state of disuse of the needle-based device, retracting the needleshield in a first direction toward the body of the needle-based deviceto apply a first force in the first direction to cause the needle toemerge out of the needle shield to prepare the needle-based device for asecond state of use thereof, and transitioning the needle-based deviceback to the first state of disuse thereof following the second state ofuse in accordance with applying a second force in a second directiondiametrically opposite to the first direction.

The method also includes securedly maintaining the encompassing of theentire protruding length of the needle by the needle shield in the firststate of disuse of the needle-based device based on coupling between theneedle shield and the body of the needle-based device, providing a lockbutton with a first end either integrally formed with the needle shieldor external to the needle shield and then coupled to the needle shield,with a length of the lock button completely external to the needleshield, and locking the needle shield with the lock button in the firststate of disuse of the needle-based device. The lock button includes ahook at a second end thereof that passes through a groove formed on theneedle shield and locks directly onto a top of the needle mount fromwhich the needle protrudes such that, in the state of the locking of theneedle shield, the length of the lock button completely external to theneedle shield is parallel to a length of the needle shield and theentire protruding length of the needle, and the hook is perpendicular tothe length of the needle shield, the length of the lock button and theentire protruding length of the needle.

In another aspect, a method includes protecting an entire length of aneedle of a needle-based device protruding from a needle mount coupledto a body of the needle-based device based on providing a needle shieldcompletely encompassing the entire protruding length of the needle in afirst state of disuse of the needle-based device, retracting the needleshield in a first direction toward the body of the needle-based deviceto apply a first force in the first direction to cause the needle toemerge out of the needle shield to prepare the needle-based device for asecond state of use thereof, and transitioning the needle-based deviceback to the first state of disuse thereof following the second state ofuse in accordance with applying a second force in a second directiondiametrically opposite to the first direction. The body of theneedle-based device is a barrel of a hypodermic syringe, a hypodermicneedle, a pen injector and/or a fluid collection device.

The method also includes securedly maintaining the encompassing of theentire protruding length of the needle by the needle shield in the firststate of disuse of the needle-based device based on coupling between theneedle shield and the body of the needle-based device, providing a lockbutton with a first end either integrally formed with the needle shieldor external to the needle shield and then coupled to the needle shield,with a length of the lock button completely external to the needleshield, and locking the needle shield with the lock button in the firststate of disuse of the needle-based device. The lock button includes ahook at a second end thereof that passes through a groove formed on theneedle shield and locks directly onto a top of the needle mount fromwhich the needle protrudes such that, in the state of the locking of theneedle shield, the length of the lock button completely external to theneedle shield is parallel to a length of the needle shield and theentire protruding length of the needle, and the hook is perpendicular tothe length of the needle shield, the length of the lock button and theentire protruding length of the needle.

In yet another aspect, a method includes protecting an entire length ofa needle of a needle-based device protruding from a needle mount coupledto a body of the needle-based device based on providing a needle shieldcompletely encompassing the entire protruding length of the needle in afirst state of disuse of the needle-based device, retracting the needleshield in a first direction toward the body of the needle-based deviceto apply a first force in the first direction to cause the needle toemerge out of the needle shield to prepare the needle-based device for asecond state of use thereof, and transitioning the needle-based deviceback to the first state of disuse thereof following the second state ofuse in accordance with applying a second force in a second directiondiametrically opposite to the first direction. The second state of useencompasses drawing of a fluid and/or injection of the fluid via theneedle-based device.

The method also includes securedly maintaining the encompassing of theentire protruding length of the needle by the needle shield in the firststate of disuse of the needle-based device based on coupling between theneedle shield and the body of the needle-based device, providing a lockbutton with a first end either integrally formed with the needle shieldor external to the needle shield and then coupled to the needle shield,with a length of the lock button completely external to the needleshield, and locking the needle shield with the lock button in the firststate of disuse of the needle-based device. The lock button includes ahook at a second end thereof that passes through a groove formed on theneedle shield and locks directly onto a top of the needle mount fromwhich the needle protrudes such that, in the state of the locking of theneedle shield, the length of the lock button completely external to theneedle shield is parallel to a length of the needle shield and theentire protruding length of the needle, and the hook is perpendicular tothe length of the needle shield, the length of the lock button and theentire protruding length of the needle.

Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and fromthe detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of this invention are illustrated by way of example andnot limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in whichlike references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a needle-based device, according to one ormore embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of multiple configurations of a needle mountof the needle-based device of FIG. 1 , according to one or moreembodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of coupling of a needle shield to theneedle-based device of FIG. 1 to encompass a needle thereof, accordingto one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the needle-based device of FIG. 1 withwings on lateral sides of an outer wall of a barrel thereof, accordingto one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the needle-based device of FIG. 1 with aring on the outer wall of the barrel thereof, according to one or moreembodiments.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the needle-based device of FIG. 1 in aspring-based configuration of a needle shield thereof, according to oneor more embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an external cap configured to at leastpartially cover the needle shield of the needle-based device of FIGS. 1and 3 , according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a process flow diagram detailing the operations involved inimplementing a security mechanism in the needle-based device of FIG. 1 ,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the spring-based embodiment of FIGS. 6-7with external cap, needle mount and needle shield thereof as modularelements.

FIG. 10 is an illustrative view of retraction of the needle shield inthe spring-based embodiment of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a locking mechanism of a needle-baseddevice in accordance with the embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7 , but as avariant thereof.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an external lock button utilized in theneedle-based device of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 13 is an illustrative view of a safety mechanism of theneedle-based device of FIG. 6 , with a longer needle mount.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the needle mount ofthe needle-based device of FIGS. 1-7 and 9-13 .

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a needle-based device analogous to theneedle-based device of FIGS. 1-7 and 9-13 in a state of disuse thereofin accordance with the embodiment of the needle mount of FIG. 14 .

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the needle-baseddevice of FIG. 15 in the state of disuse thereof.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of a state of enablement of use of theneedle-based device in accordance with the embodiments of FIGS. 14-16 .

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of the needle-based device of FIG. 15 withguide elements, according to one or more embodiments.

Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from theaccompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments, as described below, may be used to provide methods,a system and/or a device of a needle-based device with a safetymechanism implemented therein. Although the present embodiments havebeen described with reference to specific example embodiments, it willbe evident that various modifications and changes may be made to theseembodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of thevarious embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a needle-based device 100, according to one or moreembodiments. In one or more embodiments, needle-based device 100 may bea syringe, a hypodermic needle, a pen injector, a fluid (e.g., blood)collection device and/or a fluid injector/extractor. It should be notedthat needle-based device 100 may not only be limited in use to medicalapplications but may also be used in biological applications and/orchemical applications. For example, needle-based device 100 may be usedto extract a requisite quantity of a solvent/fluid from a vial/bottle.All reasonable applications are within the scope of the exemplaryembodiments discussed herein.

In one or more embodiments, needle-based device 100 may include aplunger 102 configured to be moved in and out of a barrel 104 thereof.In one example implementation, barrel 104 may be cylindrical and plunger102 may be appropriately designed (e.g., also cylindrical) to enableslidable movement thereof within barrel 104 and in and out of barrel104. In another example implementation, barrel 104 may be shaped like asquare prism or a rectangular prism and plunger 102 may be appropriatelyshaped to enable the aforementioned slidable movement. All possibleshapes and configurations of barrel 104 and plunger 102 that enable theslidable movement of plunger 102 within barrel 104 and in and out ofbarrel 104 are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussedherein.

In one or more embodiments, a base 106 of plunger 102 may enable a user150 to press plunger 102 into barrel 104 using a thumb of a hand 152thereof; base 106 may also enable user 150 to draw plunger 102 out ofbarrel 104 using the thumb and/or other fingers of hand 152. In one ormore embodiments, user 150 may be able to use the other fingers (e.g.,forefinger and middle finger) and, optionally, a palm of hand 152 tostabilize needle-based device 100 while utilizing the thumb to pressplunger 102 into barrel 104; user 150 may hold needle-based device 100through another hand (e.g., hand 154) and draw plunger 102 out of barrel104 using the thumb and/or the other fingers of hand 152. The use ofplunger 102 and barrel 104 are well known to one skilled in the art withrespect to needle-based devices; detailed discussion thereof is,therefore, skipped for the sake of convenience, brevity and clarity.

It should be noted that, in all states of operation of needle-baseddevice 100, at least some portion of plunger 102 (e.g., at least base106) may be outside barrel 104. It should also be noted that at leastsome portion of plunger 102 may be inside barrel 104 in all states ofoperation of needle-based device 100. For example, an end of plunger 102farthest away from an end thereof including base 106 may be a plungerhead 108. In one or more embodiments, plunger head 108 may be insidebarrel 104 in all states of operation of needle-based device 100. In oneor more embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1 , a cross-sectional diameter ofplunger head 108 may be less than a cross-sectional diameter of barrel104, and a cross-sectional diameter of base 106 may be more than thecross-sectional diameter of barrel 104. The aforementioned designs arecrucial to enable plunger 102 to move within barrel 104 to performfunctionalities associated with needle-based device 100. Without base106, it may not be possible for a position of plunger head 108 withinbarrel 104 to be desirably controlled. Without plunger head 108, plunger102 may fall out of barrel 104 in a vertical position of needle-baseddevice 100 with base 106 at a bottom thereof. Also, a portion of barrel102 between plunger head 108 and an end 110 of barrel 104 farthest awayfrom base 106 may include a fluid drawn from a vial/bottle byneedle-based device 100. Said portion may not be able to hold the fluidwithout plunger head 108.

FIG. 1 also shows a needle mount 112, according to one or moreembodiments. In one or more embodiments, an end 114 of a needle 116 maybe inserted into needle mount 112 (e.g., a needle hub) such that needle116 protrudes from needle mount 112. In one or more embodiments, needle116 may include a hollow (e.g., cylindrical) bore along a lengththereof. In one or more embodiments, another end 118 of needle 116 maybe beveled into a point. In one or more embodiments, end 118 of needle116 may be configured to first touch a vial/bottle during extraction ofa fluid therefrom or an arm of a patient during injection of the fluidtherein. In one or more embodiments, needle mount 112, in turn, may bedirectly coupled to barrel 104 by way of end 110 thereof farthest frombase 106. Thus, in an implementation where barrel 104 and plunger 102together may form a syringe, needle mount 112 and, thereby, needle 116may be attached to the syringe.

FIG. 2 shows multiple configurations of needle mount 112, according toone or more embodiments. In a first configuration, needle mount 112 mayhave a wing 202 _(1,2) on each lateral side thereof in a directionapproximately perpendicular to a length of barrel 104 when needle mount112 is coupled to barrel 104. A portion 204 of needle mount 112 with nowings may be configured to be directly coupled (e.g., based on a screwmechanism) to barrel 104. In the first configuration, wings 202 ₁₋₂ maybe of uniform width. In a second configuration, again, needle mount 112may have a wing 212 _(1,2) on each lateral side thereof in the directionapproximately perpendicular to the length of barrel 104 when needlemount 112 is coupled to barrel 104. Again, in the second configuration,a portion 214 of needle mount 112 with no wings may be configured to bedirectly coupled (e.g., based on a screw mechanism) to barrel 104.However, unlike the first configuration, wings 212 ₁₋₂ may be onlypartially of uniform width, only to then taper off to a reduced width(or no width).

FIG. 3 shows coupling of a needle shield 302 to needle-based device 100to encompass needle 116 thereof, according to one or more embodiments.Here, in one or more embodiments, needle shield 302 may be cylindricalor shaped like a rectangular prism/square prism based on the design ofneedle mount 112 and/or barrel 104. Additionally, in one or moreembodiments, needle shield 302 may be hollow to enable encompassing theprotruding needle 116 therewithin. In one or more embodiments, an outerwall 304 of barrel 104 proximate end 110 may have a connector 306thereon to enable an end 308 of needle shield 302 to clasp ontoconnector 306 while needle shield 302 completely encompasses theprotruding needle 116 therewithin. In one or more embodiments, an innercross-sectional diameter of needle shield 302 may be more than an outercross-sectional diameter of needle mount 112 and an outercross-sectional diameter of barrel 104 to enable the sliding of needleshield 302 over needle mount 112 and barrel 104.

In one or more embodiments, needle shield 302 may first receive theprotruding needle 116 on needle mount 112 through end 308 thereof. Inone or more embodiments, needle shield 302 may then be slid over needlemount 112 until end 308 clasps onto connector 306 on outer wall 304 ofbarrel 104. In the state of needle shield 302 completely encompassingthe protruding needle 116, the other end (e.g., end 310) of needleshield 302 may completely enclose end 118 of needle 116. FIG. 3 showsneedle shield 302 to be transparent (e.g., needle shield 302 may be madeof plastic, glass etc.). However, it should be noted that needle shield302 may be translucent or opaque in certain embodiments. Here, the outerwall of needle shield 302 may include cuts (not shown) that revealneedle 116 while needle 116 is still protected by needle shield 302. Allreasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplary embodimentsdiscussed herein.

In one or more embodiments, the sliding of needle shield 302 over needlemount 112 may be facilitated by wings 202 ₁₋₂ on needle mount 112. Forthe aforementioned purpose, optionally, grooves 312 ₁₋₂ may be providedon an inner wall 314 of needle shield 302. In one or more embodiments,wings 202 ₁₋₂ of needle mount 112 may be received within grooves 312 ₁₋₂during relative sliding of wings 202 ₁₋₂ with respect to grooves 312₁₋₂. While FIG. 3 shows grooves 312 ₁₋₂ as cutting across inner wall 314of needle shield 302 into an entire thickness thereof, it should benoted that grooves 312 ₁₋₂ may not cut across inner wall 314 of needleshield 302 completely in one or more alternative embodiments. In one ormore embodiments, needle shield 302 may slide until reception thereofwithin connector 306. In one or more embodiments, connector 306 may beconstituted by flexible pairs of flaps 316 ₁₋₂, each forming a groove318 ₁₋₂ to receive end 308 of needle shield 302 therewithin.

Thus, in one or more embodiments, user 150 may cover needle 116 withneedle shield 302 for temporary protection (e.g., for transportation toa site of a patient). In one or more embodiments, needle 116 may becovered using needle shield 302 also after use thereof. In one or moreembodiments, the covering of needle 116 with needle shield 302 may notonly protect needle 116 but also prevent undesirable accidents arisingout of unwanted contact therewith. In one or more embodiments, in orderto enable injection of a fluid (e.g., a medication) into a body of apatient, needle 116 may be uncovered based on pushing needle shield 302further downward. In one or more embodiments, as connector 306 may beflexible, user 150 may be able to apply enough downward pressure toenable end 308 of needle shield 302 to pop out of grooves 318 ₁₋₂ ofconnector 306 and slide further downward along barrel 104. In one ormore embodiments, during the course of needle shield 302 sliding furtherdownward along barrel 104, needle 116 pops out of end 310 of needleshield 302 such that needle 116 is uncovered.

In one or more embodiments, needle shield 302 may indirectly movefurther downward along barrel 104 when user 150, after drawing plunger102 outward from barrel 104, places needle shield 302 against a cap of avial or a bottle and pushes barrel 104 inward toward the vial or thebottle. In one or more embodiments, this may automatically cause end 308of needle shield 302 to pop out of grooves 318 ₁₋₂ of connector 306 andslide further downward along barrel 104, thereby uncovering needle 116.In one or more embodiments, user 150 may hold needle shield 302 tomaintain a position thereof in which needle 116 is exposed to inject afluid (e.g., medication) into a body of a patient or extract bloodtherefrom. In one or more embodiments, once the task is done, a forcemay be applied in an opposite direction on needle shield 302 by user 150to restore a state of complete encompassment of needle 116 by needleshield 302.

Thus, in one or more embodiments, needle-based device 100 may beprovided with needle shield 302 configured to protect needle 116 in astate of disuse thereof (e.g., storage, transportation, post-injectionof a fluid, post-collection of a fluid) and to be retractable to revealneedle 116 for use (e.g., injection of a fluid, collection of a fluid)thereof. It should be noted that while FIGS. 2 and 3 show wings (202₁₋₂, 212 ₁₋₂) on lateral sides of needle mount 112, it is possible thatwings may be present on lateral sides of barrel 104 instead in one ormore alternative embodiments. Here, in one or more embodiments, needlemount 112 may be smaller in size and plainer. Also, it should be notedthat needle shield 302 need not be coupled to barrel 104 merely by wayof connector 306. In certain embodiments, needle shield 302 may merelybe mounted on an element analogous to needle mount 112. In this case,said element may encompass needle mount 112 and needle shield 302 may beindirectly coupled to barrel 104 by way of being coupled to saidelement. In certain cases, needle mount 112 may also be interpreted as amount (e.g., based on the element encompassing needle mount 112) forneedle shield 302.

FIG. 4 shows needle-based device 100 with wings 402 ₁₋₂ on lateral sidesof barrel 104 on outer wall 304 thereof proximate end 110, according toone or more embodiments. Here, in one or more embodiments, needle shield302 may slide over wings 402 ₁₋₂ to lock onto connector 306 on outerwall 304 to shield needle 116. In one or more embodiments, needle shield302 may pushed further downward along barrel 104, therebyuncovering/revealing needle 116, based on pressure applied to needleshield 302 such that end 308 pops out of connector 306. Again, in one ormore embodiments, needle shield 302 may be pulled back to a position inwhich needle shield 302 completely encompasses the protruding needle116.

It is to be noted that while FIG. 4 shows wings 402 ₁₋₂ in aconfiguration similar to the first configuration thereof in needle mount112 of FIG. 2 , wings 402 ₁₋₂ may also be in a configuration similar tothe second configuration thereof in needle mount 112 of FIG. 2 .Further, all reasonable variations that allow for relative movementbetween needle shield 302 and needle mount 112/barrel 104 are within thescope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein. In FIG. 4 , needlemount 112 may be smaller than the embodiments of FIGS. 2-3 because ofthe absence of wings thereon.

Referring back to FIG. 3 , it should be noted that configuration ofwings 202 ₁₋₂ therein may, again, not be limited. It may be possible forwings 212 ₁₋₂ to be on lateral sides of needle mount 112 instead ofwings 202 ₁₋₂. Further, as discussed above, grooves 312 ₁₋₂ may notcompletely cut across inner wall 314 of needle shield 302. In thisembodiment, wings 212 ₁₋₂ may be received within grooves 312 ₁₋₂ and mayslide relatively thereto. Here, the tapering on wings 212 ₁₋₂ may enableneedle shield 302 to be locked onto needle mount 112/barrel 104, withouta requirement of connector 306. Again, needle shield 302 may be pusheddownward to reveal/uncover needle 116, as discussed above. Needle shield302 may then be manually restored to an original position thereof inwhich needle shield 302 completely encompasses the protruding needle116.

FIG. 5 shows needle-based device 100 with a ring 502 on outer wall 304of barrel 104 proximate end 110, according to one or more embodiments.Here, needle mount 112 may be in the same configurations as in FIGS. 2-3; alternatively, needle mount 112 may be smaller and without any wingsthereon. In one implementation, ring 502 (e.g., of uniform thickness)may protrude from outer wall 304 of barrel 104; in addition, anunderside of ring 502 may have a groove 504 complementary to aprotrusion 506 on end 308 of needle shield 302. Again, needle shield 302may first receive needle 116 on needle mount 112 through end 308thereof. Needle shield 302 may be moved downward toward barrel 104 suchthat, after a point, protrusion 506 of needle shield 302 locks ontogroove 504 of ring 502. In this state, needle shield 302 may completelyencompass the protruding needle 116 therewithin.

In one or more embodiments, ring 502 may be made of a flexible material.Also, in one or more implementations, while ring 502 may change shapedue to flexibility thereof, ring 502 may not change a position thereofalong barrel 104. In one or more embodiments, an appropriate downwardpressure (e.g., by user 150) may enable protrusion 506 to pop out ofgroove 504 and cause needle shield 302 to go further downward alongbarrel 104. In one or more embodiments, this may uncover/reveal needle116 for use on a patient (e.g., to extract blood, to inject a fluid, toprick a finger) or on a vial/bottle (e.g., to extract a fluid). In oneor more embodiments, following use of needle 116, an upward pressure maybe applied to enable protrusion 506 to once again lock into groove 504to enable needle shield 302 completely encompass needle 116 again.

The ring (e.g., ring 502) embodiment of FIG. 5 is merely an exampleembodiment. Other embodiments involving rings that facilitate coveringof needle 116 and uncovering thereof are within the scope of theexemplary embodiments discussed herein. In one or more embodiments,wings (202 ₁₋₂, 212 ₁₋₂) on needle mount 112 may further aid thelocking/unlocking/relocking of needle shield 302 at/from appropriatepositions. All reasonable variations are within the scope of theexemplary embodiments discussed herein.

FIG. 6 shows needle-based device 100 in a spring-based configuration ofneedle shield 302, according to one or more embodiments. Here, in one ormore embodiments, needle mount 112 with wings 212 ₁₋₂ may be directlyinserted into barrel 104 via end 110 farthest from base 106. In oneexample implementation, barrel 104 may have grooves (not shown) on aninside wall thereof proximate end 110 onto which needle mount 112 may bescrewed. Other forms of coupling needle mount 112 to barrel 104 arewithin the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein. In oneor more embodiments, barrel 104 may have a ring 602 (e.g., analogous toring 502, but may be structurally different; ring 602 may be made offlexible material) formed on outer wall 304 thereof proximate end 110.In some embodiments, ring 602 may be integrally formed with barrel 104,while in some other embodiments, ring 602 may be an element separatefrom barrel 104.

In one or more embodiments, a spring 604 may be placed over needle mount112 such that spring 604 encompasses the protruding needle 116 along anentire length thereof. In one or more embodiments, now when spring 604encompassing needle 116 is received within needle shield 302 through end308 thereof and needle shield 302 is moved downward toward barrel 104,end 308 of needle shield 302 may press against ring 602. In one or moreembodiments, further application of pressure (e.g., through hand 152 ofuser 150) may compress ring 602 and push ring 602 inside end 308 to bereceived within needle shield 302. In one or more embodiments, in thisstate, needle shield 302 may completely encompass the entire lengths ofboth protruding needle 116 and spring 604.

In one or more embodiments, when no further external pressure isapplied, needle shield 302 may comfortably shield the protruding needle116 and spring 602. In one or more embodiments, although ring 602 maynot lock needle shield 302 in a position, needle shield 302 may beprevented from falling outward when needle-based device 100 is flippedover because a cross-sectional inner diameter of ring 602 may be morethan a cross-sectional inner diameter of end 308. In one or moreembodiments, needle shield 302 may be hollow. In one or moreembodiments, further, a cross-sectional inner diameter of end 310 ofneedle shield 302 farthest away from end 308 may be smaller than across-sectional diameter of spring 604. Thus, in one or moreembodiments, needle shield 302 may be prevented from falling downward byspring 604 when needle-based device 100 is held in an upright position.

In one or more embodiments, if spring 604 were not present, needleshield 302 may slip and fall downward; alternatively or additionally,needle shield 302 may be prevented from falling downward based on anelement mounted on needle mount 112, as discussed above. However, in oneor more embodiments, upon further application of pressure in a downwarddirection toward barrel 104 by user 150 or by pressing end 310 of needleshield 302 against a surface (e.g., an arm of a patient, a cap of avial/bottle) that exerts a normal reaction in the downward direction,needle shield 302 moves in the downward direction along barrel 104,thereby compressing spring 604 also in the same direction touncover/reveal needle 116. In one or more embodiments, theuncovered/revealed needle 116 may then be utilized appropriately (e.g.,for injecting a fluid into a patient, for pricking a finger/body part ofthe patient, for pricking a cap of a vial/bottle). Following use ofneedle 116, the force along the direction of compression of spring 604may be relaxed (e.g., by taking needle-based device 100 out of thesurface, user 150 stopping the application of pressure in the downwarddirection) to enable spring 604 revert to an uncompressed versionthereof; in the uncompressed state of spring 604, needle shield 302 mayonce again completely encompass the protruding needle 116 and spring604.

In other words, immediately following relaxation of the application ofthe force along the direction of compression of spring 604, needle-baseddevice 100 may be automatically transitioned back to the state of disusethereof (e.g., a state where needle shield 302 completely encompassesneedle 116 and spring 604) following use thereof in accordance withanother force (e.g., a restoring force) provided by decompression ofspring 604 that is automatically applied in a direction diametricallyopposite to the direction of compression of spring 604.

In the scenario of injecting a fluid into the body of a patient,needle-based device 100 may first be placed against a cap of avial/bottle from which the fluid is to be extracted. When end 310 ispressed against the cap, the normal reaction from the cap pushes needleshield 302 downward, thereby compressing spring 604. The downwardmovement of needle shield 302 and the compression of spring 604 exposesneedle 116 that pricks the cap. Plunger 102 may also be pushed in by wayof user 150 pressing base 106 in an upward direction toward needle mount112 such that plunger head 108 contacts needle mount 112. Now, pullingplunger 102 back may create a gap between needle mount 112 and plungerhead 108. Said gap may constitute a low pressure region, therebyenabling the fluid to fill the gap by way of gushing in through thehollow needle 116.

Now, the desired quantity of the fluid may be filled in the gap. The gapmay be controlled based on graduated marks (e.g., shown as graduatedmarks 606) on barrel 104. Once the desired quantity of fluid isavailable in the gap, user 150 may take needle-based device 100 out ofthe vial/bottle, thereby decompressing spring 604 to restore spring 604to the original shape thereof. User 150 may then place end 310 of needleshield 302 against the arm of a patient, which, again, compresses spring604 as discussed above, and exposes needle 116. The exposed needle 116may prick a skin of the patient; the pressing of base 106 may compress avolume of the gap, thereby creating a high pressure region therein. Thefluid may be squeezed through the hollow needle 116 into the body of thepatient.

Once the fluid is injected into the body of the patient, needle-baseddevice 100 may be extracted out of the arm of the patient. Thisdecompresses spring 604 and restores needle shield 302 to the positionin which needle shield 302 completely encompasses the exposed needle 116and spring 604. Needle-based device 100 may also be employed to prick afinger tip of the patient to extract blood or to extract another fluidfrom a bottle/vial; additionally, needle-based device 100 may be used toextract venom from a body portion of a mammal. The details with respectto the figures discussed above make the aforementioned uses obvious. Allreasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplary embodimentsdiscussed herein.

With respect to FIG. 6 , it is obvious that needle shield 302 may beretracted to reveal needle 116 and released to close needle 116 at will.Also, wings 212 ₁₋₂ on needle mount 112 may aid the secure couplingbetween needle shield 302 and barrel 104. It is possible to envision theembodiment of FIG. 6 without wings 212 ₁₋₂. To summarize, the embodimentof FIG. 6 may be employed in two distinct modes of operation withrespect to the use of needle-based device 100 where needle shield 302 isretracted to compress spring 604 and to reveal needle 116. In one ormore embodiments, the first distinct mode of operation of use ofneedle-based device 100 may be the extraction of a fluid from avial/bottle or a body (e.g., arm) of a mammal (e.g., a human), and thesecond distinct mode of operation of use of needle-based device 100 maybe the injection of said fluid into the body of the mammal or a body ofanother mammal. No current solutions exist where an analogous needle isshielded and exposed for use during both the extraction of a fluid andthe injection thereof. Yet another mode of operation of the embodimentof FIG. 6 may be related the state of disuse of needle-based device 100where needle 116 is completely shielded/encompassed by spring 604 andneedle shield 302.

FIG. 7 shows an external cap 702 configured to at least partially coverneedle shield 302, according to one or more embodiments. In one or moreembodiments, external cap 702 may be made of a transparent (e.g.,plastic, glass), a translucent (e.g., rubber) or an opaque material tocover the slits and cuts on needle shield 302. In one or moreembodiments, an outer surface 704 of external cap 702 may have a groove706 therein. Correspondingly, in one or more embodiments, needle shield302 may have a lock button 708 on an outer surface thereof. In one ormore embodiments, lock button 708 of needle shield 302 may be configuredto be received into groove 706 on external cap 702 to lock needle-baseddevice 100 (e.g., in a state of disuse thereof).

In one or more embodiments, the use of external locking may preventreuse of needle-based device 100, or at least needle 116 therein.Although FIG. 7 shows needle shield 302 as covering needle 116 andspring 604, concepts associated with the external locking may also beapplicable across the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 . In one or moreembodiments, the external locking may prevent movement of needle shield302, which, in turn, prevents reuse of needle-based device 100.Alternatively, needle shield 302 itself may include both lock button 708and groove 706. Here, locking may be done merely using elements ofneedle shield 302. In another alternative implementation, lock button708 may be external to needle shield 302. For example, lock button 708may be on external cap 702 and groove 706 may be on needle shield 302.Here, lock button 708 of external cap 702 may be received within groove706 of needle shield 302.

In yet another alternative implementation, external cap 702 may coverlock button 708 of needle shield 302 to prevent premature/accidentallocking during transportation or handling of needle-based device 100. Inone example implementation, external cap 702 may be designed like a pencap. Other configurations of external cap 702 are within the scope ofthe exemplary embodiments herein.

Thus, exemplary embodiments discussed above provide for safetymechanisms with respect to needle-based device 100. The manual shieldingavailable in typical syringes may require capping a needle after usethereof. The capping and uncapping may cause needle injuries to a user.Additionally, in a spring-based typical implementation of a syringe thatallows for a needle to be retracted therewithin, some space may bereserved in a barrel for the spring. This may result in loss of spacefor medication. The automatic retraction of needle shield 302 in theexemplary embodiments discussed herein may also allow for one-handedoperation of needle-based device 100. All reasonable variations arewithin the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.

It should be noted that exemplary embodiments discussed above have beenplaced in the context of a syringe and needle 116, with barrel 104 andplunger 102. However, concepts associated with the exemplary embodimentsdiscussed herein are applicable across embodiments where needle mount112 is coupled to a body (alternative to barrel 104) of needle-baseddevice 100 and needle 116 protrudes from needle mount 112. In one ormore embodiments, needle shield 302 may encompass the protruding needle116 in a state of operation; needle shield 302 may be retracted toreveal/uncover needle 116. In one or more embodiments, needle shield 302may also be protected through external cap 702, as discussed above. Allreasonable variations in and combinations of the exemplary embodimentsdiscussed with respect to FIGS. 1-7 are within the scope of theexemplary embodiments discussed herein.

FIG. 8 shows a process flow diagram detailing the operations involved inimplementing a security mechanism in a needle-based device (e.g.,needle-based device 100), according to one or more embodiments. In oneor more embodiments, operation 802 may involve protecting an entirelength of a needle (e.g., needle 116) of the needle-based deviceprotruding from a needle mount (e.g., needle mount 112) coupled to abody (e.g., barrel 104) of the needle-based device based on providing aneedle shield (e.g., needle shield 302) configured to completelyencompass the entire protruding length of the needle in a first state ofdisuse of the needle-based device. In one or more embodiments, operation804 may involve retracting the needle shield in a first direction towardthe body of the needle-based device to cause the needle to emerge out ofthe needle shield to prepare the needle-based device for a second stateof use thereof.

In one or more embodiments, operation 806 may involve transitioning theneedle-based device back to the first state of disuse thereof followingthe second state of use in accordance with a force applied in a seconddirection diametrically opposite to the first direction. In one or moreembodiments, operation 808 may then involve securedly maintaining theencompassing of the entire protruding length of the needle by the needleshield in the first state of disuse of the needle-based device based oncoupling between the needle shield and the body of the needle-baseddevice.

FIG. 9 shows the spring-based embodiment of FIGS. 6-7 with external cap702, needle mount 112 and needle shield 302 as modular elements. In oneor more embodiments, as clearly indicated by FIGS. 6 and 9 and asdiscussed above, needle shield 302 may be mounted onto barrel 104 (bodyof needle-based device 100) directly or, for example, through the userof a connector (such as ring 602) such that needle shield 302encompasses both spring 604 and needle 116. As discussed with referenceto FIG. 6 , the relative cross-sectional areas/diameters of needle mount112, needle shield 302 and ring 602 may automatically enable protectionof needle 116 and prevent accidental sticks caused by needle 116otherwise. It should be noted that there may be snaps (not shown) formedon barrel 104 (or body of needle-based device 100) to enable directcoupling of needle shield 302 thereonto.

FIG. 10 shows retraction of needle shield 302 in the spring-basedembodiment of FIG. 6 , according to one or more embodiments. Asdiscussed above, once pressure is applied in a downward direction towardbarrel 104 by user 150 or by pressing end 310 of needle shield 302against a surface (e.g., an arm of a patient, a cap of a vial/bottle),needle shield 302 moves in the same downward direction, therebycompressing spring 604 as shown in FIG. 10 . FIG. 11 shows a lockingmechanism 1100 of needle-based device 100 in accordance with theembodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7 , but as a variant thereof. Here, in one ormore embodiments, locking mechanism 1100 may include a lock button 1102(analogous to lock button 708) on needle shield 302 on a locationproximate to end 114/top of needle mount 112; however, here, lock button1102 may have a hook 1104 thereon configured to get between coils 1106of spring 604 to touch the top of needle mount 112 and lock needleshield 302 by way of a hook tooth 1110 on hook 1104 catching onto one ormore wire(s) of spring 604, as shown in FIG. 11 ; for the aforementionedpurpose, needle shield 302 may have a groove 1108 on an outer wallthereof through which hook 1104 and hook tooth 1110 pass to lock intocoils 1106 of spring 604 and the top of needle mount 112. This increasesthe lock force compared to the lock force in the embodiment of FIG. 7 ,where lock button 708 engages with external cap 702 instead.

As discussed above, other possible embodiments include lock button 708being a separate element that engages with needle shield 302 or bothwith needle shield 302 and spring 604. FIG. 12 shows an external lockbutton 1202 (e.g., part of locking mechanism 1200) that is configured toengage both with a groove 1204 on needle shield 302 (e.g., by way of ahook 1208 on external lock button 1202) and coils 1106 (e.g., throughgroove 1108 by way of another hook 1206 including a hook tooth 1210 onexternal lock button 1202) of spring 604. Again, the embodiment contextof external lock button 1202 is similar to that of FIG. 6 . In one ormore embodiments, spring 604 discussed above may be a separate elementor integrated with needle mount 112 discussed above or needle shield302. In one or more embodiments, spring 604 may be a metal spring ormolded spring. In one or more embodiments, needle shield 302 across allembodiments, along with other elements such as needle mount 112 andspring 604, may be sold as a safety mechanism distinct from a syringe oranother form of needle-based device 100.

FIG. 13 shows the embodiment of FIG. 6 , but with a longer needle mount112. Here, needle mount 112 may be longer such that ring 602 may beformed thereon instead of barrel 104. Thus, needle 116 with needle mount112 and needle shield 302 may be sold as a separate safety mechanism1300 distinct from needle based device 100. It should be noted that themanual embodiment of FIG. 3 also can include the lock mechanisms (e.g.,those of FIG. 7 and FIGS. 11-12 (without catching wires of spring 604 asspring 604 does not exist in the embodiment of FIG. 3 ); it is easy toenvision the embodiment of FIG. 7 without spring 604) discussed herein.All reasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplaryembodiments discussed herein. Also, it should be noted that mechanismsof injection of a fluid into a body of a mammal and extraction of afluid from a vial/bottle/body of the mammal are known to one skilled inthe art, especially with regard to needle-based device 100. Detaildiscussion and illustration thereof are, therefore, skipped for the sakeof convenience and clarity.

FIG. 14 shows yet another embodiment of needle mount 112, according toone or more embodiments. Here, needle mount 112 may have end 114 thereofto which needle 116 is to be attached. Starting from end 114, a body1402 of needle mount 112 may have a narrow first portion 1404 (e.g.,cylindrical) configured to receive needle 116 through end 114. Saidcylindrical first portion 1404 may open out into a wider second portion1406 (e.g., again, cylindrical) that continues till another end 1408 ofneedle mount 112 opposite to end 114.

As shown in FIG. 14 , second portion 1406 may be threaded (e.g., withthreads 1410) on an undersurface (e.g., inner surface) thereof. FIG. 14also shows barrel 104 being threaded (e.g., with threads 1412) around anend (e.g., end 110) thereof. Threads 1410 of second portion 1406/needlemount 112 and threads 1412 of barrel 104 may be complementary to oneanother such that needle mount 112 is coupled to barrel 104 by way ofneedle mount 112 being screwed onto barrel 104 by way of threads 1410and threads 1412. The design of needle mount 112 with a hollow andnarrow first portion 1404 and wider second portion 1406 may enableneedle 116 to approximately reach second portion 1406 from one side andbarrel 104 to approximately reach first portion 1404 from the otherfollowing coupling between needle mount 112 and barrel 104. Obviously,needle mount 112 may include wings 1450 ₁₋₂ on lateral sides of firstportion 1404 and second portion 1406 to enable needle mount 112 movealong inner walls of needle shield 302 which may/may not include grooves(e.g., analogous to grooves 312 ₁₋₂ of FIG. 3 ) to facilitate theaforementioned movement.

Several embodiments may be possible. In one embodiment, second portion1406 may be tapered in a direction toward first portion 1404. In otherwords, second portion 1406 may be widest at end 1408 and narrowest whenclosest to first portion 1404. Here, around the end (e.g., end 110)discussed above, barrel 104 may be tapered in a manner complementary tothe tapering of second portion 1406. Second portion 1406 may benon-tapered in another embodiment. In yet another embodiment, threads1412 may be on an inner surface/inner wall of barrel 104 and threads1410 may be on an outer surface of second portion 1406. The coupling ofneedle mount 112 to barrel 104 may then involve screwing needle mount112 into barrel 104. Further, in another embodiment, the tapered portionof barrel 104 may be a modular element in itself that is replaceablewith another tapered portion. All reasonable variations are within thescope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.

As discussed above, as needle 116 approximately reaches second portion1406 from one side when coupled to needle mount 112 and barrel 104approximately reaches first portion 1404 of needle mount 112 when barrel104 is coupled to needle mount 112, the design of needle mount 112 mayensure that the dead space for fluid loss is minimized. FIG. 14 alsoshows an example means of coupling between barrel 104 and needle mount112 of needle-based device 100, according to one or more embodiments.Obviously, spring 604 and needle shield 302 in various configurationsthereof discussed above may be part of needle-based device 100 in theembodiments disclosed and anticipated by FIG. 14 .

In one or more embodiments, as shown in FIG. 14 , needle-based device100 may further include a needle cap 1414 configured to cover needle 116in a state of disuse thereof. FIG. 15 shows needle-based device 100 inaccordance with the embodiment of FIG. 14 in a state of disuse thereof,according to one or more embodiments. Needle shield 302 is shown astransparent for the sake of illustrative convenience. In one or moreembodiments, needle-based device 100 may include needle 116 completelycovered with needle cap 1414 in the state of disuse thereof. As seen inthe spring embodiments of FIGS. 6-7 and FIGS. 9-13 , needle 116, inturn, may be completely encompassed by spring 604 in the state of disuseof needle-based device 100; needle cap 1414 covering needle 116 may atleast be partially encompassed by spring 604.

It is easily possible to envision embodiments discussed herein withoutspring 604, but exemplary embodiments discussed herein include spring604 for the sake of convenience. In one or more embodiments, needle cap1414 may be a hollow cylindrical or tapered element to accommodateneedle 116 therewithin. In one or more embodiments, in the state ofdisuse of needle-based device 100, needle shield 302 may completelyencompass needle 116 and spring 604 therewithin. In one or moreembodiments, needle shield 302 may also completely encompass needle cap1414 therewithin, save for a small portion (e.g., protruding portion1502) that protrudes out of needle shield 302 (e.g., out of end 310). Inone or more embodiments, protruding portion 1502 may be covered with asafety cap 1504 that clings onto grooves 1506 on an outer surface ofneedle shield 302 such that safety cap 1504 is coupled to needle shield302 and covers protruding portion 1502 of needle cap 1414 completely. Itshould be noted that the uncompressed spring 604 completely encompassesneedle 116 (and partially encompasses needle cap 1414) in this state ofdisuse of needle-based device 100.

In one or more embodiments, the presence of safety cap 1504 ensures thatneedle cap 1414 is kept stable and that needle 116 within is completelycovered by needle cap 1414 in the state of disuse of needle-based device100. Further, if needle cap 1414 includes a hole on an end 1508 thereoffarthest to needle mount 112, needle 116 may not pop out of needleshield 302 in case of needle 116 accidentally disengaging from needlemount 112 in the state of disuse of needle-based device 100. FIG. 15also shows needle cap 1414 locking onto needle mount 112 at end 1510thereof; said coupling may be based on threads (not shown) or any otherpossible means therefor.

FIG. 16 shows another embodiment of needle-based device 100 where needleshield 302 completely covers needle 116, needle cap 1414 and spring 604in the state of disuse of needle-based device 100. In this embodiment,needle cap 1414 may not protrude out of needle-based device 100. Forexample, a surface of a top portion of needle cap 1414 may be flush withend 310 of needle shield 302 in the state of disuse of needle-baseddevice 100. In one or more embodiments, safety cap 1504 may again coupleto needle cap 1414 and cling onto grooves 1506 in the state of disuse ofneedle-based device 100 to maintain stability of needle 116 therein andto prevent movement of needle 116 out of needle-based device 100.

It is obvious that grooves 1506 on the outer wall of needle shield 302may be holes instead for elements (e.g., wings) of safety cap 1504 tolatch onto. All possible means of coupling between safety cap 1504 andneedle shield 302 and safety cap 1504 and needle cap 1414 are within thescope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein. FIG. 17 illustratesthe state of enablement of use of needle-based device in accordance withthe embodiments of FIGS. 14-16 . Here, safety cap 1504 may be removed,for example, by twisting (e.g., by user 150) thereof that disengagessafety cap 1504 from grooves 1506 (or, holes) on needle shield 302. Thedisengagement of safety cap 1504 may render it easy for user 150 to pullsafety cap 1504 along with needle cap 1414 out of needle shield 302 torender needle 116 encompassed only by spring 604 and needle shield 302.Also, the aforementioned disengagement process does not dislodge needle116 out of needle mount 112.

Now the functioning of needle-based device 100 with respect towithdrawing fluid and injecting fluid into user 150 (or, other mammals)is obvious in view of the discussion above relevant to FIGS. 6-7 andFIGS. 9-13 . The pressing of needle-based device 100 onto the arm ofuser 150 may move needle shield 302 downward toward barrel 104, whichcompresses spring 604. Immediately after the aforementioned force isrelaxed or withdrawn, the restoring force of spring 604 may bring backneedle shield 302 to an original position thereof that signifies disuse.In other words, the restoring force of spring 604 may decompress spring604 and restore needle shield 302 back to a state of completelyencompassing needle 116 and spring 604 in the state of disuse ofneedle-based device 100. In this state of disuse, needle 116 mayadditionally be protected through a lock button (to be discussed below),needle cap 1414 and safety cap 1504.

In the abovementioned embodiments of FIGS. 14-16 , needle shield 302 mayalso include a lock button (e.g., lock button 1102, external lock button1202) similar to the embodiments of FIGS. 12-13 . FIGS. 14-16 showneedle-based device 100 as having lock button 1102 merely as an example.In the state of disuse of needle-based device 100, lock button 1102 maycatch onto wires of spring 604 through hook 1104 and hook tooth 1110thereof, which provides additional stability to needle-based device 100.It should be noted that lock button 1102 may also merely lock (e.g.,through hook 1104) onto needle shield 302 without catching onto wires ofspring 604 in the state of disuse of needle-based device 100.

FIG. 18 shows needle-based device 100 in the embodiment of FIG. 15 withguide elements 1802 ₁₋₂ on an inner surface thereof proximate end 310.FIG. 18 shows a frontal sliced view of needle shield 302 thatillustrates the aforementioned guide elements 1802 ₁₋₂ clearly. In oneor more embodiments, guide elements 1802 ₁₋₂ may be in the form ofplates formed on an inner surface/inner wall of end 310 of needle shield302 of needle-based device 100. In one or more embodiments, theformation of guide elements 1802 ₁₋₂ on an inner surface 1804 of end 310of needle shield 302 may further constrict the space around needle cap1414 in the state of disuse of needle-based device 100 based on guideelements 1802 ₁₋₂ protruding from end 310 inside needle shield 310parallel to the length of needle shield 302 such that the distancebetween guide element 1802 ₁ and guide element 1802 ₂ is less than aninner diameter of needle shield 302. Such a constriction imposed throughneedle cap 1414 passing through guide elements 1802 ₁₋₂ in the state ofdisuse of needle-based device 100 may prevent significant lateralmovement/displacement of needle cap 1414 and, thereby, needle 116 in thestate of disuse of needle-based device 100.

The prevention of significant lateral displacement may, in turn, preventdamage to needle 116 and injury to user 150 carrying needle-based device100 in the state of disuse thereof. Obviously, the length of guideelements 1802 ₁₋₂ may be significantly less than the length of needleshield 302 as guide elements 1802 ₁₋₂ may internally protrude from end310 of needle shield 302 to a distance significantly less than thelength of needle shield 302. Also, the distance between guide element1802 ₁ and guide element 1802 ₂ along a direction perpendicular to thelength of needle shield 302 may be less than an inner diameter of needleshield 302. Further, the distance between guide element 1802 ₁ and guideelement 1802 ₂ along the direction perpendicular to the length of needleshield 302 may be less than an inner diameter of spring 604 to enableguide elements 1802 ₁₋₂ to pass through spring 604 in the state ofdisuse of needle-based device 100, as shown in FIG. 18 .

It is obvious that the embodiments of FIGS. 14-18 are enhancements ofthe embodiments discussed with regard to FIGS. 1-13 . Therefore,operations/functionalities discussed with regard to FIGS. 1-13 are alsoapplicable to the embodiments of FIGS. 14-18 . All reasonable variationsare within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.

Although the present embodiments have been described with reference tospecific example embodiments, it will be evident that variousmodifications and changes may be made to these embodiments withoutdeparting from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments.Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: protecting an entire lengthof a needle of a needle-based device protruding from a needle mountcoupled to a body of the needle-based device based on providing a needleshield completely encompassing the entire protruding length of theneedle in a first state of disuse of the needle-based device; retractingthe needle shield in a first direction toward the body of theneedle-based device to apply a first force in the first direction tocause the needle to emerge out of the needle shield to prepare theneedle-based device for a second state of use thereof; transitioning theneedle-based device back to the first state of disuse thereof followingthe second state of use in accordance with applying a second force in asecond direction diametrically opposite to the first direction;securedly maintaining the encompassing of the entire protruding lengthof the needle by the needle shield in the first state of disuse of theneedle-based device based on a coupling between the needle shield andthe body of the needle-based device; providing a lock button with afirst end, the first end is either integrally formed with the needleshield or external to the needle shield and then coupled to the needleshield, and a length of the lock button is completely external to theneedle shield; and locking the needle shield with the lock button in thefirst state of disuse of the needle-based device based on: the lockbutton comprising a hook at a second end thereof that passes through agroove formed on the needle shield and locks directly onto a top of theneedle mount from which the needle protrudes such that, in the state ofthe locking of the needle shield: the length of the lock buttoncompletely external to the needle shield is parallel to a length of theneedle shield and the entire protruding length of the needle, and thehook is perpendicular to the length of the needle shield, the length ofthe lock button and the entire protruding length of the needle.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising providing wings on lateral sidesof one of: the needle mount and the body of the needle-based device toenable the coupling between the needle shield and the body of theneedle-based device.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprisingproviding a connector on one of: the body of the needle-based device anda body of the needle mount to enable the coupling between the needleshield and the body of the needle-based device.
 4. The method of claim1, further comprising providing a ring on an outer wall of one of: thebody of the needle-based device and a body of the needle mount to enablethe coupling between the needle shield and the body of the needle-baseddevice.
 5. The method of claim 1, comprising utilizing a barrel of atleast one of: a hypodermic syringe and a hypodermic needle as the bodyof the needle-based device.
 6. The method of claim 1, comprising thesecond state of use encompassing drawing of a fluid via the needle-baseddevice.
 7. The method of claim 1, comprising the second state of useencompassing injection of a fluid via the needle-based device.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, comprising utilizing a barrel of at least one of: apen injector and a fluid collection device as the body of theneedle-based device.
 9. A method comprising: protecting an entire lengthof a needle of a needle-based device protruding from a needle mountcoupled to a body of the needle-based device based on providing a needleshield completely encompassing the entire protruding length of theneedle in a first state of disuse of the needle-based device, the bodyof the needle-based device being a barrel of at least one of: ahypodermic syringe, a hypodermic needle, a pen injector and a fluidcollection device; retracting the needle shield in a first directiontoward the body of the needle-based device to apply a first force in thefirst direction to cause the needle to emerge out of the needle shieldto prepare the needle-based device for a second state of use thereof;transitioning the needle-based device back to the first state of disusethereof following the second state of use in accordance with applying asecond force in a second direction diametrically opposite to the firstdirection; securedly maintaining the encompassing of the entireprotruding length of the needle by the needle shield in the first stateof disuse of the needle-based device based on a coupling between theneedle shield and the body of the needle-based device; providing a lockbutton with a first end, the first end is either integrally formed withthe needle shield or external to the needle shield and then coupled tothe needle shield, and a length of the lock button is completelyexternal to the needle shield; and locking the needle shield with thelock button in the first state of disuse of the needle-based devicebased on: the lock button comprising a hook at a second end thereof thatpasses through a groove formed on the needle shield and locks directlyonto a top of the needle mount from which the needle protrudes suchthat, in the state of the locking of the needle shield: the length ofthe lock button completely external to the needle shield is parallel toa length of the needle shield and the entire protruding length of theneedle, and the hook is perpendicular to the length of the needleshield, the length of the lock button and the entire protruding lengthof the needle.
 10. The method of claim 9, comprising the couplingbetween the needle shield and the body of the needle-based device beingbased on providing wings on lateral sides of one of: the needle mountand the body of the needle-based device.
 11. The method of claim 9,comprising the second state of use encompassing drawing of a fluid viathe needle-based device.
 12. The method of claim 9, comprising thesecond state of use encompassing injection of a fluid via theneedle-based device.
 13. The method of claim 9, comprising the couplingbetween the needle shield and the body of the needle-based device beingbased on providing a ring on an outer wall of one of: the body of theneedle-based device and a body of the needle mount.
 14. The method ofclaim 9, comprising the coupling between the needle shield and the bodyof the needle-based device being based on providing a connector on oneof: the body of the needle-based device and a body of the needle mount.15. A method comprising: protecting an entire length of a needle of aneedle-based device protruding from a needle mount coupled to a body ofthe needle-based device based on providing a needle shield completelyencompassing the entire protruding length of the needle in a first stateof disuse of the needle-based device; retracting the needle shield in afirst direction toward the body of the needle-based device to apply afirst force in the first direction to cause the needle to emerge out ofthe needle shield to prepare the needle-based device for a second stateof use thereof, the second state of use encompassing at least one of:drawing of a fluid and injection of the fluid via the needle-baseddevice; transitioning the needle-based device back to the first state ofdisuse thereof following the second state of use in accordance withapplying a second force in a second direction diametrically opposite tothe first direction; securedly maintaining the encompassing of theentire protruding length of the needle by the needle shield in the firststate of disuse of the needle-based device based on a coupling betweenthe needle shield and the body of the needle-based device; providing alock button with a first end, the first end is either integrally formedwith the needle shield or external to the needle shield and then coupledto the needle shield, and a length of the lock button is completelyexternal to the needle shield; and locking the needle shield with thelock button in the first state of disuse of the needle-based devicebased on: the lock button comprising a hook at a second end thereof thatpasses through a groove formed on the needle shield and locks directlyonto a top of the needle mount from which the needle protrudes suchthat, in the state of the locking of the needle shield: the length ofthe lock button completely external to the needle shield is parallel toa length of the needle shield and the entire protruding length of theneedle, and the hook is perpendicular to the length of the needleshield, the length of the lock button and the entire protruding lengthof the needle.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providingwings on lateral sides of one of: the needle mount and the body of theneedle-based device to enable the coupling between the needle shield andthe body of the needle-based device.
 17. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising providing a connector on one of: the body of the needle-baseddevice and a body of the needle mount to enable the coupling between theneedle shield and the body of the needle-based device.
 18. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising providing a ring on an outer wall of oneof: the body of the needle-based device and a body of the needle mountto enable the coupling between the needle shield and the body of theneedle-based device.
 19. The method of claim 15, comprising utilizing abarrel of at least one of: a hypodermic syringe and a hypodermic needleas the body of the needle-based device.
 20. The method of claim 15,comprising utilizing a barrel of at least one of: a pen injector and afluid collection device as the body of the needle-based device.